This is my second attempt at using pastels. The source photo was shown with my earlier post Painting #66. With this painting, I started with higher quality paper (Fabriano 100% cotton Hot Press), and did a watercolor under painting with fairly intense warm colors for the foreground. Then I worked it over with charcoal and pastel. The sky is pure pastel over watercolor.
This work is larger than most of my earlier ones, and – standing around in my studio or our living room – it stops me every time I pass it. There is potential, but I need to find out how to remove the pastel/kindergarten look. I am working on it.
Searching for myself in art, I find corner after corner of myself I never knew existed. Everything can frustrate or enlighten – I see now the choice is mine in every moment.
A poem for you:
If you look for the truth outside yourself, it gets farther and farther away. Today, walking alone, I meet him everywhere I step. He is the same as me, yet I am not him. Only if you understand it in this way will you merge with the way things are. Tung-Shan, Chinese (807-869), quoted in Stephen Mitchell's The Enlightened Heart
I hope you have a great weekend, filled with joy and contentment. Thanks for visiting my blog!
Fruitful Dark 
Now that’s a sky! Love the colour and how the reflection of it punctuates the dark foreground. Fabulous!
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I really like this! Pastels is not an easy medium.
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Nice and you have your signature Fritz water reflection…good good.
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And the poem…yup.
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I can see you really working the pastel, watercolor and charcoal to suit you and I agree with your comment that the choice is yours…..so true! it takes finding that corner but you are getting there. I really love your painting, the sky, the landscape and especially that reflection…..right on!
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Thanks so much Magaret. You are very kind and I really appreciate your encouragement.
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